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Emergency ‘Kerbside Collection’ for Flood-Damaged Items Underway

As clean-up efforts commence in Kedron and many parts of Brisbane, an emergency collection will also be underway to pick up heaps of flood-damaged items from many homes.

For this emergency collection, residents are allowed to leave their flood waste and damaged items by the kerb as Brisbane City Council rolls out their free collection as of 1 March 2022.

This is not part of the regular Kerbside Collection program. It is a separate initiative meant to be part of Brisbane’s clean up and recovery efforts.

Cr Fiona Hammond’s office is providing information on the pick-up coverage and assistance on how to get on the list if you are not in it.

According to Council, delivery of new bins to those who require them will be prioritised as well to ensure that the locals have somewhere to dispose of their rubbish.

Northside Community Noticeboard
for Assistance

If able, residents are also encouraged to take their flood-related rubbish at Council’s four resource recovery centres in Nudgee Beach, Willawong, Chandler, and Ferny Grove free of charge. Locals may also get in touch with their local officials for further assistance in case the collectors have yet to come by their streets.

“We are gearing up to work our way across the city to help clean up where it is safe to do so,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.

“In order to prioritise the collection of flood-affected material, all general kerbside collection has been temporarily paused.”

“However, there are still many areas along the Brisbane River that are expected to experience more flooding as the tide rises and falls. If your property is in an area that experiences river flooding, please delay the clean-up until it is safe to do so.”

Meanwhile, the Kedron-Wavell Services Club is one of two main evacuation sites for displaced residents. The other evacuation centre is at Sleeman Sports Complex in Chandler. Locals may phone 3403 8888 for further assistance regarding the temporary shelter.

Residents may also sign up for Mud Army 2.0. If you want to take part, register as an emergency volunteer. If you or your neighbours have been impacted by floodwaters, the Mud Army 2.0 will be deployed in your location. You should also register to get help.

MUD ARMY 2.0 REGISTRATION

Kangaroo Statue From Little Flower Church In Kedron Stolen

Father Mario Debattista is hopeful that the missing kangaroo statue from The Little Flower Church in Kedron will soon be returned to the church’s garden.

Read: Improved Bradbury Park To Open In 2022

The concrete kangaroo statue, which is around one metre tall, was reportedly stolen from the church garden, along with a turtle and a pig statue, right before Australia Day 2022.

The statues were originally owned by Fr Debattista’s mother but were passed onto him after she died in November 2020. They remind him of his mother and father that he decided to display them in the church’s beautiful garden.

However, Fr Debattista feels sad especially for the kids as the garden is less interesting now than before. The spot was such a hit among toddlers and little ones and they would go up to the garden’s edge to try to spot the different animals.

The church garden was created for the local children and it also features the patron saint of animals, St Francis, at the centre.

Some footage was sent to Fr Debattista by a local showing a man pushing a shopping trolley full of garden statues and pot plants in Stafford. However, it was unclear if it was related to the church or not.

Fr Debattista recalled it was not the first time that her mother’s prized collection of garden statues had been stolen. Many years ago, Fr Debattista remembered the police came knocking about a man they caught pushing a shopping trolley full of garden statues.

“If anybody sees a red kangaroo in someone’s front yard, or if the thief wants to give them back, there will be no repercussions, I’ll forgive them and be happy that they brought them back,” told the Archdiocese of Brisbane.

Fr Debattista said he will forgive anyone who got the statues and they can drop them back overnight incognito if they want.

Farmhouse Kedron: Serving Vegan Food With a Countryside Vibe

Photo Credit: Farm House, Kedron / Facebook

Get the countryside vibe whilst enjoying a vegan meal made from fresh farm produce at Farmhouse Kedron.

Farmhouse Kedron was established in 2017 as a tribute to the family-owned former Farmer Joe’s and local family farms and fresh food producers. The cafe kept the country-style feel of the former warehouse it now occupies with a rustic fit-out including a wooden verandah whilst dishing out food made from ingredients that come straight from the farm.

Breakfast fare includes Farmhouse Bruschetta with baby tomatoes and Spanish onion on Danny’s sourdough topped with green tahini and marinated feta served with a fresh avocado cheek; Rice Cauli Bowl which is a hearty meal of fresh cauliflower rice topped with local avocado, a free-range poachie, rocket, pickled chilli, wakame and furikake.

Then there’s The Gnocchi fresh potato gnocchi, Farmhouse arrabbiata sauce with thick-cut bacon, mild chilli, baby spinach, parmesan, a soft poached free-range egg.

Lunch options include Lemongrass and Coconut Poached Chicken Salad with Asian slaw, julienne carrot, cucumber, chilli, toasted coconut, lime coconut dressing, coriander, peanuts, sesame seeds and mint.

And if you fancy a burger, there’s the housemade Ploughman’s Burger served with Farmhouse fries and Farmhouse aioli. Other must-try options include Bourbon Glazed Pulled Beef Sandwich on sourdough packed with pickled red onion, broadleaf rocket, horseradish, aioli; and Crispy Cheesy Potato Cake made with charred sweetcorn, cheese and spring onions, on grilled bacon w poached free-range eggs, wilted spinach, fresh hollandaise, sumac.

Crispy Corn and Cheese Potato cake | Photo Credit: Farm House, Kedron / Facebook

burgers and Sandwiches — Burgers and Sandwiches | Photo Credit: Farm House, Kedron / Facebook

Kids can choose from any of the five Farmhouse meals options:

One poached egg, bacon and sourdough toast
Broccolini, cherry tomatoes and poached egg
Avocado toasted soldier
Sourdough toastie, ham, cheese & tomato
Little pancakes, syrup & berries

Drinks at Farmhouse range from Loose Leaf Tea to fresh fruit blends and smoothies. Choices of wines, cider and beer are also available.

Farm House, Kedron is located at 9 Somerset Road, Kedron. The joint is open daily from 6.30 am to 2.30 pm.

Farm House, Kedron | 9 Somerset Rd, Kedron QLD 4031, Australia

Heads Up, Gordon Park! Check Out These Fresh, Gluten-free Macarons

Photo credit: Marche du Macaron/Facebook

Wondering where to buy freshly made, gluten-free macarons in Gordon Park? Head on out to Thistle St, and check out these artisanal goodies.

Read: Improved Bradbury Park To Open In 2022

Founded by wife and husband team Trish and Bernard Hollamby in 2015, Marche du Macaron specialises in beautiful handmade macarons which come in a variety of flavours.

cute macarons — Photo credit: Marche du Macaron/Facebook

The usual ones include chocolate, mint choc, orange, and strawberry whilst seasonal specials include Ferrero Rocher, champagne rose, plum pudding macarons, Macadami honey, and Belgian Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts.

Everything is handmade on site to guarantee their freshness. Another thing that makes their macarons special, is the fact that they use ganache for the fillings instead of the typical buttercream.

gordon park cafe — Photo credit: Marche du Macaron/Facebook

Before opening their brick and mortar store in Brisbane, they have been operating online since 2011 and their family was known for making macarons for special occasions like weddings, christenings, milestone birthdays and corporate events.

Trish, who has been a coeliac since 1997, has been very hands on with the business. They take coeliac disease and gluten intolerance incredibly seriously, hence, customers can make sure all the treats they order are 100% gluten-free.

Besides the macarons where they are best known for, this lovely little cafe also offers other sweet and savoury items and an ever-changing brunch menu.

macarons brisbane — Photo credit: Marche du Macaron/Facebook

The counters are always full of cookies, chocolate cheesecake scrolls, caramelised onion and herb focaccia, and muffins, as well as toasties and egg rolls. All items go perfectly with their coffee and hot chocolate.

One more plus factor, especially for pet lovers, Marche du Macaron is a dog-friendly place where they even have a special ‘dog station sculpture’ out front with designer leash to attach your fur babies.

macarons colorful — Photo credit: Marche du Macaron/Facebook

They are open Wednesday to Saturday in their Gordon Park store. Takeaways are also available. They hold macaron classes from time to time in their shop in Ashgrove.

To learn more about Marche du Macaron, don’t forget to check them out on Facebook and on Instagram @marchedumacaron.

Kedron Has Highest Covid-19 Numbers In Brisbane’s North

Photo credit: Elchinator/Pixabay

Kedron has the most number of COVID-19 infections in Brisbane’s northern suburbs, with 1,072 cases from 13 December 2021 to 19 January 2022.

Read: Farm House Kedron Hires Security to Protect Staffers Against Abuse Over Vaccine Mandate

Based on data from Queensland Health, Kedron has recorded around 1,072 cases whilst nearby Gordon Park has recorded 696 cases for the above period. As of the latest census, Kedron-Gordon Park has a population of 13,700.

Other nearby suburbs such as Wavell Heights (457) and Stafford Heights (283) recorded far fewer cases. Ascot, located seven kilometres away from Kedron, is one of the suburbs with the least Covid-19 infections with just 188 recorded cases for the same period.

Here’s an overview of some suburbs in Brisbane’s northside, from 13 Dec 2021 to 19 Jan 2022

Brisbane Suburb	Covid-19 Cases
Kedron	1072
Chermside	827
Gordon Park	696
Nundah	668
Wooloowin/Lutwyche	601
Stafford	591
Aspley	527
Wavell Heights	457
Carseldine	399
Ferny Grove	378
Banyo	360
Stafford Heights	283
Newmarket	282
Chermside West	256
Ascot	188

Read: Works Ramp Up On Webster Rd Footpath Upgrade in Kedron

Queensland ended all domestic border restrictions on 15 Jan 202, removing the need for border passes and the presentation of negative COVID-19 test results for anyone entering the state. Unvaccinated individuals no longer have to present quarantine requirements; however, establishments will still require proof of vaccination from their customers.

As of 24 Jan 2022, Queensland’s new COVID cases 10,212 with 878 patients at the hospital. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the state has had around 335,342 cases in total. Queensland has 89.2 per cent fully vaccinated individuals whilst 91.8 per cent have had their first dose.

Works Ramp Up On Webster Rd Footpath Upgrade in Kedron

Farm House Kedron Hires Security to Protect Staffers Against Abuse Over Vaccine Mandate

Diners who visit Farm House Kedron should expect to undergo a thorough check-in process with a staff and security guard before they enter the restaurant to ensure compliance with the state’s newly-implemented vaccine mandate.

Owner John Scott confirmed that they hired security staff to prevent any abuse of their hospitality workers, who are only complying with the rules so Farm House Kedron won’t incur a costly fine from the government.

Mr Scott said that businesses in Queensland that do not conduct a proper COVID-19 check-in could be fined between $6,000 and $13,000. The cost of paying for security will not matter if it means protecting Farm House Kedron’s service staff from incurring abuse from diners who refuse to follow the mandate, which was implemented beginning 17 December 2021.

That weekend, a man who could not show his vaccination certificate but wanted to dine inside accused Felipe Rizzi, the Kedron restaurant’s manager, of discrimination. Mr Rizzi also dealt with a customer who yelled at him and a law enforcer who insisted on being allowed inside the restaurant because he had a badge but no proof of vaccination.

“Our biggest thanks and sincerest apologies to our extremely hard working Manager Felipe Rizzi for the abuse he has endured today, by following the government mandate, and requesting guests show proof of vaccination,” the management posted on their social media pages, stating that they have given Mr Rizzi a few days off so he could recover from the abuse.

“From the man screaming at him and accusing him of discrimination, to the lady yelling ‘I have money to spend’ and the law enforcement agent who asked to be let in on a badge instead of a certificate…For those who we could not tell whether it was ‘a trick’ to see if he would bend, or really just belligerence – we apologise.”

“If you wish to complain please email info@farmhousekedron.com.au but please refrain from abusing our team, who like everyone else, come to work to earn a living.”

Mr Rizzi said that there were customers who seemed to be unaware of the vaccination mandate but this didn’t justify their rude behavior towards the staff. However, 99 per cent of their visitors have been respectful, compliant, and actually pleased to have the popular eatery re-open at full capacity for vaccinated guests.

Per Queensland Government, the following restrictions will apply to the unvaccinated in the hospitality setting:

Photo Credit: Screen Grab from QLD Health

Learn more about the mandate and what fully vaccinated people, or those who’ve had two doses of COVID-19, should carry with them if they are going outside from the official site.

Here’s a Progress Update on the Shand Street Park Upgrades

Upgrades and improvements at Shand Street Park in Stafford are on track despite wet weather interruptions and a brief holiday break. Some facilities will still remain closed during the construction phase but residents will be able to enjoy the outcome in due time.

Once completed, Shand Street Park will have improved surfacing for the skate half pipe, a new path linking the bikeway to the scooter/skate facilities, as well as an extended car park for visitors.

A picnic shelter will also be installed near the basketball court whilst a flora and fauna trail will be added to the area to educate visitors on the park’s natural surroundings.

The Shand Street Park construction started in July 2021 with the closure of the basketball court and skate half pipe. The dog off-leash park and the car park are still open but by early 2022, the latter will be closed for upgrades. Timings for closures of these recreational facilities will be provided on signs throughout the park.

Council has suggested alternative facilities for the locals during this temporary closure, such as the Stafford skate park at Webster Road Park, the Ashgrove skate facility at Dorrington Park, and the Multi-Use Games Area at Grinstead Park.

“This project is one of the ways the Schrinner Council is investing in creating more to see and do outdoors for families with children of all ages in our local area,” Cr Tracy Davis said.

“This will also complement the learn-to-ride facility and the upgraded playground & picnic area which is just a short bike ride away via the Kedron Brook bikeway at Grinstead Park, Alderley.”

The improved park is expected to be open in early 2022.

Improved Bradbury Park To Open In 2022

Artist’s impression of Bradbury Park’s playscape (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)

A central section of Bradbury Park in Kedron will be upgraded to include a raft of improvements, including a large playscape with a unique design that will not be seen in any other park in Brisbane.

Read: Scooter Track, Magical Forest at Bradbury Park in Kedron Win Awards

Works for the improvement project include a large playscape, new picnic shelters with seating, electric barbecues, and a new amenity block. Connecting pathways and a new car park will help facilitate mobility and boost visits to the area.

The large playscape, which is one of the highlights of the final concept plan for the project, has a one-of-a-kind design that will show it emerging out of the ground and reaching up into the treetops, blending into its natural setting in the park with its form and use of materials.

Artist’s impression of playscape (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)

“The vision for the Bradbury Park playscape is a ‘biological city’ that is made up of a complex series of ‘hollows’ (tower-like structures) and ‘byways’ (bridges that connect the towers) that are surrounded by a series of inclusive and accessible ground-based explorative elements,” Brisbane City Council has stated.

Bradbury Park improvement project (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)

The Bradbury Park improvement project is part of the Council’s initiative to enhance and maintain the more than 2,100 parks across the city. Construction will take place between Monday and Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Council assured residents that safe pedestrian access will be maintained around the site at all times.

Bradbury Park is scheduled for completion in mid-2022. For the latest updates about the project, visit the Brisbane City Council website.

Scooter Track, Magical Forest at Bradbury Park in Kedron Win Awards

Photo credit: Form Landscape Architects

Enjoy the award-winning Scooter Track and Magical Forest at Bradbury Park in Kedron and check out their innovative design that won the highest accolades at the 2021 AILA QLD Landscape Architecture Awards.

Read: State Of The Art Playscape Coming To Bradbury Park

The Scooter Track has received the Landscape Architecture Award in the category of “Play Spaces,” whilst the Magical Forest received an Award of Excellence. Both are the highest awards given in their respective categories.

Bradbury Park Scooter Track

A collaboration between Form Landscape Architects and Brisbane City Council, the Bradbury Park Scooter Track is a significant demonstration of sustainable landscape design. The course was centered around the retention of existing gum trees whilst earthworks and path alignments were sensitively executed to ensure an integrated outcome.

“Riders can have a linear experience cruising the course and engage with various obstacles if they so choose. The inclusion of overtaking lanes was a key design feature enabling this choice,” said Form Landscape Architects.

The award-winning scooter track was completed in July 2020. It’s a first of its kind hybrid facility for all ages, combining elements of a pump track, skate park and junior learn-to-ride track. Although it was specifically designed for use with scooters, the course does accommodate a variety of wheeled craft such as skateboards, rollerblades. and bikes.

Bradbury Park’s Magical Forest

Bradbury Park Magical Forest (Photo credit: Form Landscape Architects)

Bradbury Park’s Magical Forest is the recipient of the Award of Excellence, which is given to the work judged to be the most significant for the advancement of landscape architecture in each category.

Located on the southern side of the netball courts, the Magical Forest is a nature play space constructed within an existing grove of mature Melaleuca and Waterhousia trees, offering a source of intrigue and delight for all who enter.

“Through the lens of a child, the design team reinterpreted features of the site with exaggerated imagination and established a vision of a miniature kingdom full of diverse geographical features. High points in the site were imagined as snowcapped mountain peaks. Low points were imagined as sandy, treasure riddled beaches,” said Form Landscape Architects.

About the Landscape Architecture Awards

The Landscape Architecture Awards program provides a key vehicle for the promotion of the achievements and work of landscape architects in Australia.

The Awards program has two stages: the first is a Chapter program and the second is the National program. Winners from the Chapter level proceeding to the National Landscape Architecture Awards program.